Scream’s Intriguing Final Girl: Sam Carpenter’s Complex Character

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I was so intrigued when the new Scream movie came out in 2022! It was a really bold move to shift the focus away from Neve Campbell’s Sidney, who we’d always followed as the main character and final girl. Instead, they put Melissa Barrera’s Sam Carpenter front and center, and I thought it was a fantastic way to refresh the franchise. It felt like a new chapter while still honoring what came before.

Sam Carpenter played a central role in Scream VI, and it seemed the movies would continue to focus on her story. However, she was fired from the franchise after making comments in support of Palestine, which caused controversy. This is disappointing because Sam was a compelling and interesting character.

Sam’s Connection To Billy Made You Wonder If She’d Become A Killer

Horror movies have featured many iconic final girls, like Laurie Strode and Nancy Thompson, but Sam Carpenter stood out as particularly compelling. While all these characters are survivors, Sam was unique because the story kept us guessing whether she might actually become the villain.

In the 2022 film Scream, we quickly learn that Sam is the daughter of Billy Loomis, one of the original killers. Throughout both Scream movies featuring Sam, she experiences visions of Billy who attempts to manipulate her into becoming a killer herself.

In Scream VI, the killers try to make it look like Sam is responsible for the murders, as she fits the profile perfectly. She even dresses up as Billy Loomis, calls as Ghostface, and kills one of the murderers, Wayne. Although Sam leaves the Ghostface mask behind, the film leaves open the possibility that she could commit further killings.

The Carpenter Sisters Were A Great Choice To Lead Scream

Sam wasn’t just part of the new Scream movies – she was central to them. Although a group of four characters were important, Sam and her sister Tara were the main focus. Their complex relationship is a driving force behind the story, and Sam’s tendency to be overprotective creates tension in Scream VI.

This change helped the new movies feel distinct from the first four, offering a fresh perspective with characters we genuinely wanted to support. It also created an interesting dynamic where, if Sam turned evil, Tara could become the last surviving hero.

I have to say, Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega really sparked together on screen – their performances were a definite highlight. It’s a shame things didn’t work out, though. When Barrera was let go, it unfortunately led to Ortega deciding to leave the franchise as well, which is a real loss.

Scream 7 Misses Sam Carpenter

There’s been a lot of trouble surrounding Scream 7, but even without that, the movie faced significant problems. The previous two Scream films built a storyline around the character Sam, and removing her – and her sister Tara – makes the new movie feel disconnected from what came before.

Bringing back Sidney Prescott was intended to improve the latest Scream movie, but initial reactions suggest it hasn’t quite worked. Scream 7 currently has the lowest rating of any film in the Scream series on Rotten Tomatoes. Given how much audiences enjoyed the previous two installments, it seems the series is suffering from the absence of the character Sam Carpenter.

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2026-02-28 17:58